Harley-Davidson introduced the CVO Street Glide for the 2010 model year as a factory-custom, top-tier version of its popular batwing-faired touring bagger. It joined the Custom Vehicle Operations lineup as a more exclusive, more heavily appointed take on the Street Glide formula, aimed at riders who wanted premium paint, upgraded finishes, and special-edition equipment straight from the factory. Harley-Davidson’s own model-year reference materials show the FLHXSE CVO Street Glide running for the 2010 through 2012 model years, then disappearing from the lineup for a time before returning for 2015 and continuing on in subsequent years. Because of that gap, the nameplate has multiple production periods rather than one uninterrupted run.
The CVO Street Glide’s importance comes from how it translated the mainstream Street Glide’s custom-bagger look into a limited-production flagship. Rather than merely adding accessories, Harley-Davidson used the CVO version to showcase the highest-end finishes, distinctive styling themes, and the most premium touring features available in a given model year. That made it a rolling showcase for the company’s design direction and a favorite among riders who wanted a more personalized, collectable Harley-Davidson without building one from parts.
When the model returned for 2015, it re-established the CVO Street Glide as one of Harley-Davidson’s most recognizable factory custom touring motorcycles, combining the Street Glide’s long-distance comfort and iconic silhouette with the exclusive treatment expected from CVO. In the modern era it remains part of Harley-Davidson’s flagship touring and customization story, serving as a higher-spec, limited-edition expression of the Street Glide nameplate rather than a separate standalone touring family.